I started my career in the late sixties, working as a graphic artist in design studios and advertising agencies in London.
In the mid eighties I got involved with computers and the subsequent DTP revolution. This led to working for a large corporation producing multilingual publications and multimedia. I also ran my own company, Geodesy, providing consultancy services and building web sites.
Despite my creative abilities I always had a strong interest in physics and astronomy, so
in 1989 I started studying for a physics degree with the Open University and completed my BSc in 2002.
After that I took up a PhD research studentship in astrophysics at The University of Manchester, which I completed in 2006.
I have been an Associate Lecturer for the Open University, and more recently worked in the USA for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as a support scientist on the Green Bank Telescope.
Currently I am a visiting research fellow in the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at The University of Manchester, and SAGE-Spec visiting research associate at Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Art Training

Although I passed my 11-plus exam (which as I recall was an IQ test), I was sent to Bromley Technical High School for Boys in Kent (now Ravens Wood School), rather than the more local Beckenham Grammar School (and thankfully not Oakfield School, the worst boy's school in south-east London). This suited my abilities (not that I had much idea of what my abilities were), as in the third year we were divided up into streams - languages, technical, engineering and, as it turned out most importantly for me, art. The art stream meant doing less academic subjects and spending more time doing art related subjects, although I also did well at maths and physics.

Our art teacher was Owen Frampton (father of Peter Frampton). He had experience as a graphic designer and guided us through the various skills of drawing, painting, graphic design and typography, very similar to a foundation course at art college. He also taught us history of architecture for the written part of the A level art exam. Another teacher in the art department, Brian Eacersall, taught us furniture design in conjunction with our woodwork lessons. We also had a Polish art teacher called Mr Pilowski, who was as mad as a hatter. This was all quite unique for a group of boys aged 14-16 in the mid-sixties.

Mr Frampton's aim (we called him Ossie) was for us all to leave the Art stream with an A level in art and a portfolio of decent work. He had contacts in ad agencies and art studios, and he would arrange job interviews for us, and that's how I got my first job in 1967 with London art studio George Godman Ltd in Fareham Street (off Dean Street). The studio sent me to St Martins School of Art, but I learnt a lot more from Owen Frampton.

Technical Knowledge and Background

I cut my computing teeth on Unix around 25 years ago. Since then I have written programmes in C and Fortran, and have made extensive use of scripting languages such as the Unix/Linux shell, Perl, Python and AppleScript. I can write code in HTML, PHP and JavaScript, and build databases with MySQL. I am also an experienced user of Quark XPress, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and MathCAD, as well as a range of astronomical software such as IDL, CASA, Starlink, MIDAS and CLASS. My experience of operating systems includes Mac OS X, Linux and Windows.

I have extensive international experience in providing technical and creative solutions to a wide variety of marketing initiatives.
At RCI Europe I implemented innovative systems for the production of multilingual travel brochures and magazines, and led award winning teams producing multimedia and CD-ROM holiday directories.
I also spearheaded the launch of RCI Travel's first UK web site.

This ability to support complex production requirements is routed in a track record of many year's experience producing:
brochures, magazines and catalogues; press advertising and direct marketing; corporate identity and packaging; audio-visual presentations and exhibition stands.

Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA),SAGE-Spec Visiting Research Associate
Working on the SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy programme: The life-cycle of dust and gas in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) - point source classification.
I am classifying SMC point sources using a decision tree method of object classification, based on infrared spectral features, continuum and spectral energy distribution shape, bolometric luminosity, cluster membership and variability information.

2011 - 2012

Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester,SAGE-Spec Research Associate
This research focuses on studies of the dust and molecular gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) and star forming regions. It involves the use of infrared (IR) and submillimetre ground-based (ALMA) and space-based (Spitzer, Herschel) observations to probe interstellar and circumstellar environments. My work is focussed on the SAGE-Spec project which has used the Spitzer Space Telescope to survey the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC). In particular, I am working on methods for analysing Spitzer-IRS spectroscopy from the SAGE-Spec legacy survey of the LMC and SMC, in order that IR sources may be classified and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) may be constructed for each sub-class of object observed in the LMC and SMC.

2009 - Present

Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester,Visiting Research Fellow
Analysis of new observations of Edge Cloud 2, together with chemical modelling of Edge Clouds 1 and 2 using UDFA 2006 and the forthcoming UDFA 2010. For this work I am also developing Xgear, which is a software application for running astrochemical models applicable to molecular clouds and star forming regions. I am a collaborator on the JCMT Spectral Legacy Survey, taking part in observations and working on validating the survey's data reduction pipeline. Lab supervision and tutoring of second and third year physics students.

2008 - 2010

Astrophysics Research Centre, Queen's University Belfast,Visiting Research Fellow
Investigating the chemistry of low metallicity environments such as molecular clouds in the extreme outer Galaxy or molecular gas in dwarf irregular galaxies. Observing with the Nobeyama 45m and GBT 100m telescopes, in order to investigate the different modes of star formation in the most distant low metallicity molecular cloud in the Milky Way.

2007 - 2008

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), GBT Support Scientist
Provided preparation and observing support to astronomers using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Gave 24 hour call-out support one week in five. Ran first observations after the GBT's track was replaced. Commissioned and calibrated receivers after repair and reinstallation on the telescope. Technically reviewed observing proposals. Took visitors up to the GBT's surface and receivers. Gave talks to summer school students. Organised single-dish summer school pulsar hands-on project. Created an on-line abstract database of papers that featured GBT observations. Recast the Green Bank web site to follow NRAO's new style. Drafted Green Bank technical documentation project charter. Edited GBT proposal and observing manuals. Refereed for the Astrophysical Journal.

2004 - 2006

The Open University, Associate Lecturer
Tutoring S103 - Discovering Science, a first year foundation course in physics, chemistry, biology and Earth science.

2004 - 2005

The University of Manchester, Maths Tutor
Tutoring first year undergraduate students in mathematics and physics.

2001 - 2002

Tresham Institute, Lecturer
Tutoring students in graphic design and typography for BTEC course.

Commercial

2001 - 2002

Geodesy Ltd, Managing Director
Production and consultancy services for web and print based publications.
Research, writing and conference moderation for The Seybold Report on Multilingual Web Publishing.

RCI Europe, Director of Special Internet Projects
Lead a project team from marketing, operations and systems for the creation of a fully transactional pan-European travel web site. Developed the business case and modelled the revenue opportunities that the site would generate.

1996 - 1999

RCI Europe, Director of MultiMedia Development
Produced interactive CD-ROM travel directory, directed the creative treatment of the user interface and designed the multilingual, geographic, relational database of resort information and maps. Led development of point-of-sale touch-screen multimedia, establishing working relationships with OEMs, VARs, AV providers and software authors. Implemented sales and marketing strategy involving direct mail, advertising and PR, plus back office support for sales force. Liaised with lawyers on copyright, production agreements, film rights and end user licence. Travelled throughout the world to promote the product and speak at trade conferences.

1993 - 1996

RCI Europe, Head of Creative Services
Directed multilingual creative team of 22 staff in the production of holiday brochures, magazines, sales brochures, direct mail, corporate identity and presentation graphics. Responsibilities included strategic planning, finance and liaison with group companies in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and India.
Technical director for European conferences, co-ordinating production with external vendors for design and preparation of all print material, planning and construction of exhibitor stands, design and build of stage sets, provision of graphic branding and signage, plus all aspects of lighting, audio and video services.

1987 - 1993

RCI Europe, Publications Production Manager
Implemented a £0.5m multi-language, networked PC and Mac based publishing system with direct links to external pre-press vendors. Developed bespoke software solutions for the production of brochures and magazines in sixteen languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Cyrillic and Greek.

Various, Graphic Designer and Artist
Started as a studio junior at George Godman and developed skills including design and layout, 'magic marker' visuals, typography, lettering, line drawing and key-line/paste-up artwork. Subsequently worked for Ernest G. Evans, Artflow, Rowlinson Broughton and Main Titles.

Image right: Paul when he was in the Artflow gang in 1969 - but which cowboy is Paul?